# 粗茶淡饭

cū chá dàn fàn

Simple, plain meals or a modest way of living

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Coarse tea and lightly prepared rice

**Traditional Chinese:** 粗茶淡飯

**Register:** General · spoken & written

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Describe unelaborate food or modest living.

It does not necessarily mean inadequate food or hardship.

## The image & its use

A meal of ordinary rice, vegetables, and tea can be satisfying without elaborate preparation. This expression names that simplicity and may extend to a modest way of life. Depending on context, it can express contentment, hospitality offered without fuss, or a contrast with luxurious meals. Plain food still deserves care and variety. Explain the actual setting so the phrase does not automatically imply that someone lacks enough to eat or has no choice in how they live.

## Examples

一家人粗茶淡饭，也过得很舒心。

### Traditional Chinese

一家人粗茶淡飯，也過得很舒心。

yì jiā rén cū chá dàn fàn ， yě guò dé hěn shū xīn 。

The family enjoys a comfortable life with simple meals.

今天只是粗茶淡饭，请随意一些。

### Traditional Chinese

今天只是粗茶淡飯，請隨意一些。

jīn tiān zhǐ shì cū chá dàn fàn ， qǐng suí yì yì xiē 。

Today's meal is simple; please make yourself comfortable.

他喜欢粗茶淡饭，觉得家常菜最合口味。

### Traditional Chinese

他喜歡粗茶淡飯，覺得家常菜最合口味。

tā xǐ huan cū chá dàn fàn ， jué de jiā cháng cài zuì hé kǒu wèi 。

He likes simple meals and finds home cooking most pleasing.

旅行回来后，她更珍惜家里的粗茶淡饭。

### Traditional Chinese

旅行回來後，她更珍惜家裡的粗茶淡飯。

lǚ xíng huí lái hòu ， tā gèng zhēn xī jiā lǐ de cū chá dàn fàn 。

After the trip, she appreciated the simple meals at home even more.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 7, 2026.

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=1358&webMd=1&la=0)

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E7%B2%97%E8%8C%B6%E6%B7%A1%E9%A3%AF)

## Keep exploring

- [大腹便便 dà fù pián pián Have a noticeably large belly ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-fu-pian-pian)

- [大惑不解 dà huò bù jiě Be completely puzzled ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-huo-bu-jie)

- [大开眼界 dà kāi yǎn jiè Greatly broaden your experience ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-kai-yan-jie)

- [大名鼎鼎 dà míng dǐng dǐng Be widely renowned ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/da-ming-ding-ding)

## Keep this one close.

Save useful idioms, read offline, and revisit them with flashcards in Almanac.

[View on the App Store ](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6819590452)

[Previous idiom 从善如流 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cong-shan-ru-liu) [Next idiom 粗枝大叶 ](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/cu-zhi-da-ye)